Pandorea plant named &#39;PJ01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Pandorea  cultivar named ‘PJ01’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact and freely-branching growth habit, dense foliage, nearly pure white flowers, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Australian Plant Breeders Rights application number 2016/213, filed on Aug. 2, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Pandorea jasminoides.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Pandorea disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘PJ01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘PJ01’ is a seedling selection resulting from the open pollination of a small population of unnamed Pandorea jasminoides plants (not patented) at a commercial plant breeding facility in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia in 2012. The inventor sowed seed collected from several of these unnamed Pandorea jasminoides plants and grew them to a mature size in order to evaluate for unique characteristics of commercial value. In October of 2013, the inventor observed that one seedling exhibited a smaller plant size with nearly pure white flowers. This seedling was isolated and further evaluated to assess the uniformity and stability of the characteristics first observed. After further evaluation, the claimed plant was selected for commercial production and given the name ‘PJ01’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘PJ01’, by way of semi-hardwood stem cuttings, was first performed in May of 2014 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PJ01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PJ01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PJ01’ as a new and distinct Pandorea jasminoides cultivar:

1. Pandorea ‘PJ01’ exhibits a vining, freely branching growth habit with a relatively fast rate of growth; and

2. Pandorea ‘PJ01’ exhibits a relatively compact plant form with shortened internode length and dense foliage, from the base of the plant to the apex.

3. Pandorea ‘PJ01’ exhibits green, glossy foliage; and

4. Pandorea ‘PJ01’ exhibits nearly pure white flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 3 year old ‘PJ01, field-grown in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. The plant has been removed from the growing container and the soil removed to expose the roots.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical mature foliage of ‘PJ01’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower of ‘PJ01’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in February of 2017 and, unless otherwise indicated, describe a 3 year old potted ‘PJ01’ field-grown plant produced in a 30 cm container in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. Plants were produced under shade, using conventional production protocols for Pandorea which consisted of regular overhead irrigation and controlled-release fertilizer applications. No chemical pest or disease measures were utilized in production.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘PJ01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2001 edition.

A botanical description of ‘PJ01’ and a comparison with the parent plant and the most similar commercial Pandorea cultivar known to the inventor, is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Evergreen woody vine.         -   Plant form.—Compact; densely foliaged.         -   Average height.—80 cm, as observed.         -   Average width.—30 cm, as observed.         -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Propagation details.—Asexual propagation may be accomplished             by semi-hardwood stem cuttings with one to two nodes.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 4 to 6 weeks are             required to initiate roots from a cutting.         -   Time to produce a marketable rooted cutting.—Approximately             16 weeks when propagated in the spring.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of             Pandorea have been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9.             Generally drought tolerant and tolerant of light frost once             established. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense             rooting.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Moderately deep.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160D. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Multiple main stem, basally branching, and             giving rise to numerous lateral branches.         -   Main stems.—Quantity — 4. Attitude — Semi-erect to erect.             Cross-section — Rounded. Diameter — 1.2 cm at the base.             Internode length — Ranging from 2.5 to 7.0 cm. Color —             Greyed-brown, RHS 199B. Texture — Fissured. Strength —             Strong.         -   Lateral branches.—Aspect — Vining; unsupported branches are             prostrate to decumbent. Shape — Rounded. Strength — Weak to             moderately strong. Diameter of lateral branches — Largest             branches are 6.5 mm at the base. Internode length on lateral             branches — 75 mm on average. Texture — Smooth; glabrous.             Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Division.—Imparipinnate compound leaf, typically with 5             leaflets.         -   Overall dimensions.—16 cm long and 9.5 cm wide, on average.         -   Foliage density on lateral branch.—Very dense.         -   Leaflets.—Dimensions — Terminal leaflet is approximately 6.5             cm long and 2.9 cm wide; lateral leaflets are approximately             5.5 cm long and 2.2 cm wide. Shape — Ovate. Aspect —             Involute. Apex — Acuminate. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire;             slightly undulated. Texture and luster of adaxial surface —             Smooth, glabrous and glossy. Texture and luster of abaxial             surface — Smooth, glabrous and glossy. Color — Juvenile             foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144A. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Mature             foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144A. Mature             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Venation             — Pattern — Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,             RHS N144D. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS N144D.         -   Petiole.—Length — 48 mm. Width — 1.75 mm. Texture and luster             — Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Strength — Weak.             Color — Yellow-green, RHS N144D.         -   Rachis.—Length — 35 mm. Width — 1.5 mm. Texture and luster —             Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Strength — Weak.             Color — Yellow-green, RHS N144D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Terminal panicle.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring and autumn in New South             Wales, Australia.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Typically 6.         -   Attitude.—Upward and outward.         -   Peduncles.—Length — 53 mm. Diameter — 4.0 mm at the base.             Attitude — Upright. Strength — Medium. Texture — Smooth;             glabrous. Luster — Matte to slightly glossy. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Outline is oblong.         -   Length.—Average of 34 mm, prior to flowers opening.         -   Diameter.—Average of 14 mm, prior to flowers opening.         -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Luster.—Matte to slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Green-white, RHS 157C. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape.—Salverform.         -   Flower diameter.—6.5 cm.         -   Flower length.—6.5 to 7.0 cm.         -   Floral throat diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Floral throat texture.—Pubescent.         -   Diameter of floral tube.—2.0 cm at the distal end.         -   Length of floral tube.—3.5 cm.         -   Floral tube texture.—Pubescent.         -   Aspect.—Flowers are outward facing.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet fragrance.         -   Lastingness.—Approximately 5 days.         -   Persistent.—Self-cleaning.         -   Pedicels.—Dimensions — 12 mm long and 1.25 mm in diameter.             Strength — Medium. Texture — Smooth; glabrous. Luster —             Matte. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity of Petals — 5. Arrangement — Single whorl;             petals imbricate and fused into an elongated tube at the             base; approximately 50 to 60 percent of the proximal portion             of the petals are fused. Shape of petal lobes — Spatulate.             Length, free portion of the petal — Ranging from 24 to             31 mm. Width, free portion of the petal — Ranging from 24 to             31 mm. Apex — Rounded. Base — Truncate; fused at the base.             Margin — Cilliate; undulated. Aspect — Moderately reflexed.             Texture and luster of upper surface — Velvety and matte.             Texture and luster of lower surface — Velvety and matte.             Petal lobe color when opening, upper surface — White,             nearest to NN155C. Petal lobe color when opening, lower             surface — White, nearest to NN155C. Petal lobe color when             fully opened. upper surface — White, nearest to NN155C.             Petal lobe color when fully opened, lower surface — White,             nearest to NN155C. Petal venation — No venation is visible.             Floral throat color — White, nearest to RHS NN155C. Floral             throat venation color — No veins are visible. Inner corolla             tube color, when fully opened — White, nearest to RHS             NN155C, and lightly suffused with green-yellow, nearest to             RHS 2D. Outer corolla tube color, when fully opened — White,             nearest to NN155C. Floral tube venation color — No veins are             visible.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Campanulate. Length — 10 mm. Diameter —             6.5 mm. Sepal lobes — Length — 2.0 mm. Width — 3.5 mm at the             base of the sepal lobe. Arrangement — Campanulate. Quantity             — 5. Shape — Deltoid. Apex — Acute. Base — Fused. Sepal lobe             margin — Entire; not undulated. Pubescence, texture and             luster — Smooth, glabrous, and matte. Color when fully             opened — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A, and fading to a             mixture of white and green-yellow at the sepal lobes, RHS             NN155C and 2D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens — Quantity — 4. Anthers — Attachment —             Dorsifixed. Shape — Two-lobed; lobes oblong. Dimensions —             Approximately 5.5 mm long and 1.0 mm wide. Color — White,             RHS NN155C. Filaments — Dimensions — 16 mm long and 0.5 mm             in diameter. Color — White, nearest to RHS NN155D and             slightly translucent. Pollen, amount — Moderately abundant.             Pollen color — White, RHS NN155C.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil — Quantity — 1 Style — Length — 15 mm.             Color — White, nearest to RHS NN155D. Stigma — Shape —             Globose. Length — 1.5 mm. Diameter — 1.5 mm. Color — White,             nearest to RHS NN155D. Ovary Color — Yellow-green, nearest             to in between RHS 144C. -   Seed and fruit: Not observed. -   Comparison with the parent: Plants of the new cultivar ‘PJ01’ may be     distinguished from its parent, an unnamed Pandorea jasminoides plant     (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘PJ01’ The parent. General coloration White. Pink. of the flower. Internode length. Medium. Long.

-   Comparison with the closest known commercial comparator: Plants of     the new cultivar ‘PJ01’ may be distinguished from the most similar     known commercial comparator, Pandorea ‘Lady Di’ (not patented), by     the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘PJ01’ ‘Saxon Gold’ Plant size. Medium. Large. Internode length. Medium. Long. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pandorea plant named ‘PJ01’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 